Let’s begin by reading Proverbs 4:5-9, “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.” 

In this portion, which primarily deals with wisdom; wisdom is described in the feminine gender.  The Hebrew word for wisdom is “chokmâh” and it is a feminine word.  Many of our languages assign masculine, feminine, or neutral genders to its words.  So, it is not unusual to see the word wisdom referenced in the feminine gender.  The word “chokmâh” is used 141 times in the Bible and is ALWAYS translated as “wisdom.”  It is Solomon, in his writings, that refers to wisdom in the feminine sense.  A couple of examples of this are found in:

  • Proverbs 7:4, “Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman.” 
  • Proverbs 9:1-5, “Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.”
  • Proverbs 2:4-5  If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

I believe the correctness of wisdom being a feminine word is because the description of wisdom in the bible is that of having qualities that are traditionally associated with women such as that of being nurturing and gentle.  If we think of wisdom in terms of the family unit, wisdom is a feminine quality that completes a man just as God had designed the husband-and-wife relationship.  Eve was taken from Adam’s rib, where the two were considered to be one.

With all this talk about wisdom, I’m sure most will desire to have wisdom.  How is it that we can get wisdom?  WE SIMPLY ASK THE LORD FOR IT.  We read in James 1:5-6, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”  True wisdom comes from the Lord and He will impart that wisdom to us when we ask in sincerity and faith…not doubting the Lord’s desire and ability to give us wisdom. 

Solomon, who had wisdom beyond his peers, was given his wisdom by the Lord.  1 Kings 4:29 tells us, “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.” 

Do you desire to have more wisdom?  (I hope you do!)  Ask the Lord to grant you more wisdom.  In every situation that you face, ask for the Lord’s wisdom.  Be before the Lord often, asking Him to graciously give you the wisdom you need for each circumstance.  He will answer your sincere prayer for His wisdom.  (CC)  (556.6)